Tide Splits Match Play Action at Hooter?s Collegiate Championship
11/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
ORLANDO, Fla. ?? The University of Alabama women’s golf team fell to instate rival Auburn in the first round of the 2006 Hooter’s Collegiate Match Play Championship, but rebounded to defeat Arizona in the second round of the competition at the Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Fla.
The event, one of the most prestigious in women’s collegiate golf, is attended by teams based on the order of their finish in the NCAA Championship the season before. The Tide earned the bid after qualifying for its first Championship since 1987.
“We putted really poorly in the morning round,” Alabama head coach Mic Potter said. “That really stopped us from gaining any momentum. Auburn is a good team that doesn’t make many mistakes and they were able to take advantage.”
Jenny Suh, the Tide’s All-American senior, was the only player to record a win against the Tigers. She defeated Auburn’s Nicole Hage, 2-up.
The Tide faced another tough task in the afternoon match, facing No. 13 Arizona in the loser’s side of the bracket. The Wildcats were defeated by Michigan State, 3-2 in first-round action.
Suh, Helena Blomberg and Goodwin all recorded wins, with Rhea Nair earning a tie with her opponent. Sarah Sturm lost to Mary Jacobs, 3 and 2, giving the Tide a 3.5-1.5 win in the match. Blomberg defeated Alison Walshe, the sixth-ranked golfer in the country heading into the weekend, 3 and 2, a key part of the Tide victory.
“Helena’s win was huge for us, and we knew we needed one more to win,” Potter said. “Jenny went up two late and had a nice chip that set up a birdie on the last hole to seal it for us. Arizona is a top-15 team, so being able to beat them was big for us.”
The Tide’s opponent has not yet been determined, as Alabama faces the winner of the Florida-South Carolina second round match. That competition was not finished on Friday due to darkness.
Play between the Gators and the Gamecocks begins at 7:30 (CT) on Saturday, with the Tide awaiting the winner. Competition in the third round between Alabama and either Florida or South Carolina is slated to begin at 8:15 (CT).
